Finally - A Cool Bokeh

[ShelleyLaSalle]

I've been trying to get a picture I am happy with using my Christmas tree and ornaments... hope you like it as much as I do!

I know I'm supposed to ask specific questions for you to critique, but I'm open to any comments. I would like to hear how I can keep improving on my pictures. I'm very happy with how it turned out, but I'm sure it could be made better.

I took this with my 50mm lens on my Nikon D5000 - ISO 400 - Flash SB600 set at -3.0 with a diffuser. 1/8 sec at f/2.5

Shelley

[ShelleyLaSalle]

Nikon D5000
50mm
SB600 set to -3.0
1/8
f 2.5

[Engine7]

Great shot and nice lighting. The only thing I would like to see is the top of the manger in the reflection. Just to complete the image.

Ruby

[Optikal iLLusion]

Looks fantastic!! Super sharp. I agree with above post though. Including the top of the manger in the reflection would complete it.

[ssssnake529]

+1 to what was already said.

[Thomas89]

I like it :-) Nice lighting and the soft reflection on the table is awesome.

Since you talk about the bokeh let me just point something out: a good bokeh is measured (technically) by how round the out of focus objects are. Your's are not quite perfect and this is due to a rather cheap lens. But don't worry about is, it's still a good shot!

[Tzetsin]

It looks pretty good, but there are a few things that need doing, and a few that could be done.

First thing, the pictures crooked. simple fix though, just crop it straight. Second, the forground and background need a little more separation. You can do this by brightening up the manger part, just be careful not to brighten it up to much and loose the shadows in there, the shadows look pretty good.

A curves adjustment would help separate the colors, as the christmas lights are really causing a red color cast over the entire image, but its not "too" bad and you could probably get away without doing it.

If your not sure what I mean, with your permission I'll do it up an show you.

Give that a go and lets see how it looks.

[ShelleyLaSalle]

Sure Tzetsin, you can adjust it... I haven't really started playing the curve thing in LR yet, I look at it and just avoid it... as for the crooked part, I was too close, so I couldn't crop it more without losing some of the image (also why the top of the manager is missing in the reflection). I was actually lying on the couch, playing with my manual focus and the Christmas tree, trying to get a bokeh - thanks Thomas89 for the clarification.

I'll have to try it again before the tree comes down. Thanks for the comments everyone!

[Tzetsin]

Capture.JPG

I adjusted the curve, took a little bit of the red cast out. Then adjusted the levels to make the forground a little brighter and dodge/burned the highlights and shadows to bring a little more depth to the manger. Then adjusted the saturation just a touch to bring the color out more. Then i straightened it. Doesn't matter how much gets cut off, you have to have a straight horizon line (unless you intend on having a crooked one of courses)